"Sister Hua, don't waste your time thinking about that mad dog," Li Yun said casually, turning slightly toward her with an easy smile.
Li Hua sighed, rolling her eyes at him. "Li Yun, you're still smiling? Do you even realize what you've done? You completely offended Zhao Xiaotian back there. That man is petty and vindictive. I know you're now a junior pharmacist and you've started cultivating, but you're still only in the early stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, while Zhao Xiaotian is already at its peak. You need to be very careful around him from now on."
Li Hua couldn't hide the worry in her eyes. After the auction ended, she would have to return to Stone Wood Town, leaving Li Yun alone in Azure Wind City. She couldn't stay by his side to shield him if trouble came knocking.
"Sister Hua, you really don't need to worry about me." Li Yun smiled, his voice calm and full of quiet confidence. "Yes, Zhao Xiaotian is stronger than me right now, but it won't be long before he's no longer my match."
His words carried weight, not blind arrogance, but certainty. After all, if he had the courage to accept Li Xian's challenge, how could he possibly be afraid of someone like Zhao Xiaotian?
---
"Li Hua?"
A soft, feminine voice called from behind them.
Both Li Hua and Li Yun turned, only to see a graceful woman in a flowing purple dress approaching, with a man in white walking casually at her side.
Li Yun immediately recognized them.
The woman was Zhen Mayo, and the man beside her was none other than Chen Xiao.
In Azure Wind City, everyone knew of the three great families. Even children barely old enough to speak could recite their names. Yet, while all three were powerful, their standings were far from equal.
The Li family, Li Yun's family, was considered the weakest of the three. Above them stood the Zhao family, and towering at the very top was the Chen family.
Chen Xiao was not just any member of the Chen family, he was the son of the current patriarch. But his fame wasn't built on family prestige alone.
Ten years ago, he had already qualified for entry into the prestigious Sword Hall, a feat that most could only dream of. Five years ago, he broke through into the Body Tempering Realm, showcasing a level of talent that stunned even Azure Wind City's oldest cultivators.
People whispered that Chen Xiao would likely reach the legendary Xiantian Realm before the age of forty, a feat almost unheard of.
In Azure Wind City, Chen Xiao was the undisputed star of his generation. In comparison, people like Zhao Xiaotian were nothing more than shadows under his light, one was the sky, the other, the dirt beneath it.
Zhen Mayo, standing beside Chen Xiao, did not come from any remarkable background. She was a member of the Zhen family, a second-rate household within Azure Wind City. For years, the Zhen family had been a minor power that relied heavily on the Li family for support.
Before Zhen Mayo became close to Chen Xiao, her presence in Azure Wind City was hardly noteworthy. Her reputation had little weight, and few people outside of her own circles even knew her name. Everything changed only because of Li Hua.
It was through Li Hua that Zhen Mayo first met Chen Xiao, and it was also through Li Hua that Li Yun had once known Zhen Mayo.
From the memories of the old Li Yun, he recalled how close Li Hua and Zhen Mayo had been in the past. They had been inseparable friends, often seen together within the Li family compound, sharing secrets and talking about everything under the sun.
At that time, Chen Xiao himself had admired Li Hua. And why wouldn't he? She was beautiful, talented, and carried herself with dignity. Even Li Hua, deep down, had been somewhat drawn to Chen Xiao, for men of his caliber were rare.
Many in the Li family believed it was only a matter of time before Li Hua and Chen Xiao would marry, a union that would delight the Li family, as it would forge an invaluable bond with the most powerful family in Azure Wind City.
But fate twisted unexpectedly. After Li Hua introduced Zhen Mayo to Chen Xiao, the woman somehow used underhanded means to take Li Hua's place and became Chen Xiao's woman.
How had Li Hua felt at that moment? Her closest friend had betrayed her in secret, stealing not just a person but her trust. That betrayal cut deep, and from that day onward, Li Hua severed all ties with Zhen Mayo. It was likely the main reason she had requested to leave the Li family compound and relocate to Stone Wood Town, far from these bitter memories.
Perhaps to avoid seeing Zhen Mayo again, Li Hua had rarely returned to Azure Wind City ever since.
"Zhen Mayo," Li Hua greeted flatly, her tone polite yet icy.
"Hua, long time no see." Zhen Mayo smiled sweetly, clinging tightly to Chen Xiao's arm as if to flaunt her position. The gesture was deliberate, almost mocking.
Li Hua's brows furrowed ever so slightly. The reaction was subtle, but Li Yun noticed it instantly. He could see the emotions beneath her calm façade, the scars that had never truly healed.
His eyes narrowed as he glared at Zhen Mayo. He had no fondness for this woman, and after seeing that smug display, his impression of her sank even lower.
"Hua." Chen Xiao's expression hardly changed when his eyes landed on Li Hua. He gave her a polite nod, nothing more, nothing less.
"You're here for the auction as well?" Li Hua asked evenly, her voice calm but holding a trace of distance.
"I'll be staying in Azure Wind City for a while, so I thought I'd drop by. Mayo wanted to bid for some Purple Fruits." Chen Xiao replied, glancing briefly at the woman holding onto his arm.
At his words, Zhen Mayo's face instantly brightened, her smile radiant and full of pride, as if she had just claimed a small victory by his side.
"Oh." Li Hua gave a short, indifferent response.
"Xiao, Hua is sitting in the back. Why don't we let her sit with us in the front row?" Zhen Mayo said sweetly, leaning closer to Chen Xiao as though her suggestion was born of kindness.
"Alright." Chen Xiao nodded without hesitation. To him, offering someone a seat at the front row was trivial, something he could grant with a simple word.
"No, this is fine. Thank you." Li Hua's tone sharpened slightly as she quickly declined. The thought of using Chen Xiao's influence, especially when Zhen Mayo was present, made her skin crawl.
"Hua, you really won't come to the front?" Zhen Mayo widened her eyes in mock surprise, her voice dripping with fake concern.
"There's no need." Li Hua shook her head firmly.
"Suit yourself then. Xiao and I will sit in the front. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Zhen Mayo smiled, waved her hand with an air of superiority, and walked ahead, clutching Chen Xiao's arm even tighter than before.
Of course, she hadn't genuinely wanted Li Hua to sit with them. Her offer was nothing but a performance, a calculated move to flaunt her relationship with Chen Xiao and to make Li Hua feel out of place. Such a petty, venomous nature was exactly what had led her to betray Li Hua all those years ago.
"What a disgusting woman," Li Yun muttered under his breath, watching the two figures move toward the first row.
Hearing his words, Li Hua gave a faint smile but remained silent.
Li Yun studied her expression, and his heart sank slightly. She might have said she was fine sitting at the back, but deep down, she likely hated losing ground to Zhen Mayo.
At that moment, in a private room overlooking the auction hall below—
Lan Yueli stood before a crystal viewing wall, her eyes calmly observing the crowd. Beside her was an elderly man with sharp eyes and a reserved presence.
The crystal wall was unique, designed so those inside could clearly see the outside, while those below remained unaware they were being watched.
"Lan, is that the young man you mentioned? The one called Li Yun?" the old man asked, his gaze narrowing slightly as it fell on Li Yun, who sat quietly beside Li Hua.
"Yes, Pavilion Master. That is Li Yun from the Li family," Lan Yueli replied respectfully.
The elderly man was none other than Guan Long, the elusive master of the Treasure Pavilion, a figure shrouded in mystery.
In Azure Wind City, Guan Long was rarely seen, even within his own Treasure Pavilion. Yet his name carried weight. Every influential figure in the city knew of him, and many had witnessed him visiting the City Lord's Mansion as an honored guest, where even the City Lord himself treated him with great courtesy.
Guan Long was not a native of Azure Wind City. He had come from distant lands, and in just over a decade, working alongside Lan Yueli, he had built the Treasure Pavilion into the thriving powerhouse it was today.
"So, this young man is the one who sold us all those excellent-grade Bone Refining Potions?" Guan Long asked, his voice thoughtful.
"Yes," Lan Yueli confirmed with a faint smile. "Over the past few months, he's sold us quite a number of them. I suspect there is a skilled master behind him. The Li family does have one alchemist, but even so, that person would never allow Li Yun to take so many high-quality Bone Refining Potions and sell them directly to us."
Guan Long nodded slightly, his expression contemplative. "Interesting. Regardless of whether there's a master behind him or not, anyone who can consistently supply such high-quality potions deserves our attention. Invite him to sit in the first row, Lan Yueli. He is worth giving face to."
"Yes, Pavilion Master. I'll go immediately." Lan Yueli bowed slightly and turned to leave, her footsteps light yet determined.
---
"Brother Chen!"
"Hello, Brother Chen!"
Wherever Chen Xiao walked, flanked by Zhen Mayo, respectful greetings followed. It was as if every voice carried admiration, some even tinged with awe.
Even the young elites already seated in the first row rose to greet him, each bowing slightly. This was the weight of Chen Xiao's name in Azure Wind City, his reputation unmatched among the younger generation.
Even Zhao Xiaotian, usually arrogant and domineering, seemed subdued in Chen Xiao's presence, like a docile lamb before a tiger.
"Everyone, please, sit down."
Chen Xiao spoke with quiet authority. His tone was calm, but there was no mistaking the natural command in his voice. Only after he and Zhen Mayo took their seats did everyone else dare to sit.
"Brother Chen, I heard you've been back in Azure Wind City for half a month?"
"Brother Chen, what's Sword Hall like? Are there many powerful cultivators there?"
"…"
The young masters leaned in, eager for conversation, their tones far more restrained than usual. Chen Xiao, however, answered only occasionally, offering a few light remarks while maintaining his composed demeanor.
Then—
"Huh?"
"Manager Lan is coming down!" someone exclaimed, excitement lacing their voice.
All eyes turned.
Lan Yueli emerged from a side door, her presence like a ray of light illuminating the hall. She walked gracefully, her lavender robe fluttering slightly with each step, her expression as calm and refined as ever.
The atmosphere stirred instantly. Countless fiery gazes followed her every movement, yet no one dared utter a word of disrespect. The lesson had already been taught years ago, one arrogant young man from a powerful family had provoked her, only to be found dead beyond the city walls the next day. Everyone knew it was related to Lan Yueli, yet even that family hadn't dared to speak out.
As Lan Yueli made her way toward the first row, whispers broke out.
"Brother Chen, your popularity is unmatched. Supervisor Lan herself came out as soon as you arrived."
"Haha, we're only basking in Brother Chen's glory!" Zhao Xiaotian said excitedly, grinning as though he had also been honored.
Lan Yueli reached the first row and smiled faintly. "Mr. Chen, I didn't expect you to attend such a small auction. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
"I only came to take a casual look, Manager Lan. There's no need to trouble yourself," Chen Xiao replied, his tone polite and measured.
On the surface, Chen Xiao appeared calm and composed. Yet inwardly, even he was surprised. For all his fame and status, it was unusual for someone of Lan Yueli's standing to personally step out and greet him. If his father, the patriarch of the Chen family, had come, then yes, it would have been reasonable. But for a junior like him? It was unexpected.